Author: bradbirzer

By day, I'm a father of seven and husband of one. By night, I'm an author, a biographer, and a prog rocker. Interests: Rush, progressive rock, cultural criticisms, the Rocky Mountains, individual liberty, history, hiking, and science fiction.

A BBT-Inspired Post: The Enchanted Childhood of Christopher Dawson (TIC)

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments

I’m breaking several rules by re-posting this at progarchy–including our rules that stress we should never write about 1) religion or 2) politics.

Apologies!

However, I wrote this piece about the incredible Anglo-Welsh Man of Letters, Christopher Dawson (1889-1970), while not only listening to Big Big Train but while also consciously trying to imitate Greg Spawton’s and David Longdon’s lyric-writing styles into straight prose.  I might have failed miserable, but I had a great time trying.

 

Stories of glass and stone—which told of the holy and sainted—convinced young Christopher Dawson that a saint was a saint not because of his or her individual talents, but as a continuation of the deepest longings and desires of the Church… 1,275 more words

via Etched in Glass and Stone: The Childhood of Christopher Dawson — The Imaginative Conservative

 

 

Skyclad – The Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth (Review)

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Skyclad – The Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth (Review)

Skyclad – The Wayward Sons Of Mother Earth (Review)


— Read on heavymetaloverload.com/2018/03/20/skyclad-the-wayward-sons-of-mother-earth-review/

Trapped in Time: Porcupine Tree (Prog Sphere)

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Steven Wilson said that not much has changed in terms of Porcupine Tree, now sharing a firm stance that a reunion is simply not on the cards. Directly asked by Eon – “What are the chances of a return for Porcupine Tree?” – Steven replied: “Well, honestly, I would say zero, because I’m just not…

via STEVEN WILSON: There are Zero Chances for PORCUPINE TREE Reunion — Prog Sphere

Rush on the Web: “Rush is a Band” and “Power Windows”

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment

If you’ve had a chance to look at our blog roll, you’ll see a couple of Rush sites.  In particular, I’d like to point out RUSHISABAND and POWERWINDOWS.  Let me just be blunt–I think the world of these sites.  I love the spirit they bring to the internet, and I deeply admire the men (Ed Stenger and Eric Hansen, respectively) who run each.

When we–Carl, Chris, and Kevin–founded progarchy back in 2012, I (Brad) really had three sites in mind to emulate: the Dutch Progressive Rock Page, Rush is a Band, and Power Windows.

Screen Shot 2018-03-19 at 8.20.51 PM
Rush is a Band

Frankly, I wanted to do for Big Big Train what the latter two have done for Rush.

Continue reading “Rush on the Web: “Rush is a Band” and “Power Windows”” →

Dave Kerzner’s Supergroup: In Continuum.

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Received this excellent news from Dave today.  Very excited for Dave and all involved.  He’s on fire.  Run, Dave, run!–BB

kerzneragudolive3

Dave Kerzner Announces New Progressive Rock Supergroup, “In Continuum”

Monday, March 19th, 2018, Miami, Florida: American musician, songwriter, producer, sound designer, co-founder of the band Sound of Contact and lauded progressive-rock artist Dave Kerzner, has announced the birth of a new progressive rock super-group named “In Continuum”. The band consists of Kerzner at the helm as the main songwriter and keyboardist, sharing lead vocal duties with Gabriel Agudo (Steve Rothery Band / Bad Dreams).

Joining Kerzner and Agudo on the debut album – set for release later in 2018 – are top multi-instrumentalists Matt Dorsey (Sound of Contact) and Randy McStine (Sound of Contact, The Fringe), former Porcupine Tree and Sound of Contact touring guitarist John Wesley, drummers Nick D’Virgilio (Big Big Train, Spock’s Beard) and Derek Cintron along with guitarist Fernando Perdomo from the Dave Kerzner Band. Special guests on the album will include singer Jon Davison (Yes) and guitarist Steve Rothery (Marillion).

Continue reading “Dave Kerzner’s Supergroup: In Continuum.” →

“Irish” Symphony — The Imaginative Conservative

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Editor’s Note: Arthur Sullivan began writing what would be his only symphony when he was twenty-one years old, on a trip to Ireland, the native land of his father. “The other night as I was jolting home,” he wrote to his mother from Belfast, “through the wind and rain on an open jaunting car, the…

via “Irish” Symphony — The Imaginative Conservative

BRIAN WILSON brings Pet Sounds to Cropredy 2018 — The Rockin’ Chair

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Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2018 is proud to announce that headlining our festival this year we welcome the legendary Brian Wilson. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the Ivor Novello Award for Lifetime Achievement, Brian Wilson is one of popular music’s most revered figures, the main creative force behind some of the most […]

via BRIAN WILSON brings Pet Sounds to Cropredy 2018 — The Rockin’ Chair

Arrived at Progarchy HQ

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments

Just a rather large slice of heaven arrived in today’s post to Progarchy HQ.

npfh 10
Poland’s best art rock band, newspaperflyhunting.
brubeck 5 set TIME
America’s greatest proto-progger, Dave Brubeck.

Borealis – The Offering – Album Review —

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Artist: Borealis Album Title: The Offering Label: AFM Records Date Of Release: 23 March 2018 “…I am thoroughly smitten and would recommend this band to anyone…who likes heavy metal with gusto, plenty of melody, a hint of prog and a healthy symphonic edge. ‘World of Silence MMXVII’ has thoroughly whetted my appetite for Borealis and […]

via Borealis – The Offering – Album Review —

KIM WILDE’s new single ‘Kandy Krush’

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The Rock 'N' Roll Oatcake's avatarThe Rockin' Chair - A good song never lets you down

Following the declaration of intent of lead single ‘Pop Don’t Stop’ Kim Wilde releases the thrill ride of raucous second single ‘Kandy Krush’.

‘Pop Don’t Stop’ was playlisted on BBC Radio 2, declared “a huge pop anthem” by the Express and a “pop wrecking ball that’s about to smash its way through your brain” by Popjustice and included the prescient lyrics “The seasons come and go again and what was old is new again.”

Kim Wilde’s return to recording isn’t a comeback, but it does mark a fresh start in the iconic singer’s extraordinary career. Proud of her past, but focused on the future, Kim has never stopped singing or selling out tours – she has played more shows in the past decade than ever before, finding fans in countries she never dreamed she’d visit and turning new generations on to her songs – such huge hits as…

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